High rise scheme at Hogarth Roundabout dropped from planning meeting at last minute

Image: Visualisation of scheme viewed from Hogarth Roundabout; CGI Simpson Haugh Architects

Residents receive just three hours’ notice of planning committee cancellation

The decision on the planning application for a development of high rise flats at Hogarth Roundabout in Chiswick has been dropped from tonight’s Hounslow Council planning committee meeting at the last moment.

Local residents represented by the Old Chiswick Protection Society were planning to turn up to the meeting to argue their objections in person, but residents who had written in to Hounslow Council opposing the development received a letter this afternoon from the Council’s Planning Services saying:

‘I am now writing to inform you that the application has been withdrawn from the agenda. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.’

The application was due to be considered by the planning committee tonight at 7.00pm and residents received the notification with barely three hours’ notice.

When we spoke to Chiswick councillor John Todd, who is on the committee, at 4pm he had not yet been notified.

Graham Clifton, Chair of the Old Chiswick Protection Society, told The Chiswick Calendar the Council’s democratic services officer had informed them the applicant had asked for the application hearing to be deferred ‘due to issues with both the report and the addendum’.

He told us there were mistakes in the documentation made public by the planning office last week, for example the assertion that the borough of Richmond approved of the development, when they did not.

The Chiswick Calendar understands the Council’s Conservation officer had opposed the plans, but their comments were not included when the documentation was made public last week on the Council’s website. They were not made public until this morning.

The residents of Old Chiswick were due to be represented at the planning committee this evening by a top lawyer. The President of the Old Chiswick Protection Society, Russell Harris, is a King’s Counsel.

We understand he had asked for the Conservation Officer’s comments to be made available so all parties at the committee could have time to read them.

Hounslow Council has told The Chiswick Calendar the application had been withdrawn from consideration at tonight’s planning committee ‘to allow time to review the objections received on the scheme.’

Residents have told us it is more likely the applicants do not want their case picked apart by a KC because of errors and omissions in the documents presented to councillors.

Photograph of the day by Bridget Osborne

Image: Church Street, Old Chiswick

Huge opposition to the plans from local residents

There is a great deal of local opposition to the planning application. The plans, submitted in August last year, are to build a ten-story tower block, providing 132 flats, created by architects Simpson Haugh. The Council’s planning officers have recommended to councillors that they accept it.

Burlington Properties London Limited, the developer behind the project, intends to demolish the existing five-storey building, replacing it with a mixed-use development. Alongside the residential units, the proposal includes flexible commercial space.

Local residents have opposed the developer’s plans because they think the buildings are too tall and totally out of tune with the character of the area, which is the most historic and picturesque part of Chiswick, having grown up from the original riverside fishing village to become the home of notable personalities such as Alexander Pope, the 18th century poet and essayist, and William Hogarth, Chiswick’s best known artist.

“We are not against a development there per se,” Chairman of the Old Chiswick Protection Society Graham Clifton told The Chiswick Calendar. “It’s just the height of it.”

Image: Chiswick House; Photograph Jennifer Griffiths

English Heritage strongly oppose the development because of the effect on Chiswick House and Hogarth’s House

English Heritage have strongly opposed the development, saying:

‘The large scale, bulk and massing of the proposed development would be entirely out of keeping with its historic surroundings’ and would cause ‘considerable harm’ to ‘multiple heritage designations.’

The site is in the Chiswick House Conservation Area. Historic England noted:

‘Although Chiswick House is bounded on two sides by busy roads and near the Heathrow flight path, for the most part it is visually removed from the modern world. Because of this it maintains a sense of seclusion which is key to its character and the understanding of its original design.

‘When within the gardens, the tree screening and low scale of the surrounding area means that the landscape, house and garden structures are seen in close to their original composition and retain their sense of being a world apart.’

The upper storeys of the new building on Hogarth roundabout would be visible from ‘numerous important locations’ within the grounds of Chiswick House.

Historic England oppose it also because the proposed development would be visible from within the gardens of Hogarth’s House, and the views of Old Chiswick from the river would be affected by the 1 Burlington Lane development:

‘It would almost entirely back views of St Nicholas’ church and loom large in views from Chiswick Old Cemetery.’

Image: English Heritage view from the river

‘Hogarth’s House, now a museum, is important for its long association with William Hogarth, one of England’s most celebrated artists and satirists, who is buried in the nearby churchyard. It is an early eighteenth century brick-built house, part-concealed from the street by an historic garden wall.

‘Though its setting is affected by the adjacent road and nearby buildings of some bulk, it retains its presence as a high-status villa in views from the north-west within its ground, views that allow its many visitors to appreciate the house as Hogarth would have done. The house is listed at Grade I.’

Image: Hogarth’s House

Hounslow’s planning office says any harm is outweighed by the public benefits

Hounslow’s Planning department has dismissed the objections of Historic England and the Old Chiswick Protection Society in its report to the planning committee,  saying:

‘This harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposed Scheme.’

Although the scheme was in conflict with heritage policies, Hounslow planners considered the scheme would ‘have no harm to world heritage assets’ and ‘less than substantial harm’ to heritage assets in the vicinity.

Planners assessed the harm to Chiswick House, Hogarth’s House and St Nicholas Church to be at the ‘low end of less than substantial harm.’ They described the harm to Old Chiswick Conservation Area as at the ‘medium level of less than substantial harm’.

But they said:

‘The Scheme adequately responds to the overall architectural character and the architectural language of the area.’

Chiswick House – Photograph by Jennifer Griffiths – @jengriffiths49

Image: Chiswick House; Photograph Jennifer Griffiths

Chiswick House offered £10,000 to ‘mitigate the harm’

The Council is offering Chiswick House £10,000 to ‘mitigate the harm towards Chiswick House.’

The planning department argue the development would bring economic activity and employment to the area, bringing construction and maintenance jobs.

It would help meet the strategic housing need in the borough and would provide ‘high quality and adequate standard of living conditions for future occupants, as well as public realm enhancement, including new and improved pedestrian routes, and cycleways that promote active travel.’

Burlington Properties London Limited have already had to resubmit their plans for the site after an earlier proposal for a 13-storey building was turned down after strong opposition from local residents, and also from Historic England.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar